Deployment Diagrams

[NT]

I'm a beginner to EA and would like to know if the following is possible or even make sense in UML/EA?

I've created a Device Node (Linux Server) with a nested Execution Environment (Application Server).
On another diagram, I Ctrl drag the Device Node to create an instance. However, I would like a nested instance of the Execution Environment to be shown as well.

Can this be done automatically, or do I have to re-create the child Nodes in the instance diagram manually?

Thanks

[Kevin G. Watson]

Hi'ya...

Not sure that I've got your concern.  But..
Wouldn't an instance of a device / node be the hardware, surely it's just the Execution Environment that would be meaningful as an instance in a Deployment 'Instance' Diagram.

You probably need an addin to do the transform... ( template, model to model thingie ... like transform to C# Model).

Kevin [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

[NCT]

Sorry, not the best explanation. Maybe I can explain it better with respect to classes.

Let's say I create two classes, class A and class B. I make class B an aggregate of class A.

Now I create an object diagram and drag an instance of class A and class B onto it. Can EA create a link between the two objects automatically, as suggested by the class model?

Or do I have to create the links my self - referring back to the class model to check consistency.
In other words, can EA enforce or at least check consistency between class relationships and instance relationships.

Thanks.

[Eve]

No, EA doesn't automatically create links between instances of elements that have links between them.  The link between the classifiers only means that the objects could be linked.  (Think of a 1 to 1 relationship between classes A and B.  Now create two instances of A and one of B.  What should EA do?)

[NT]

Yes, I see your point.

My other question is more 'after the fact'.
Once the instance model has been manually completed, is there any way I could potentially (e.g.) run a script or something, to ensure the instance diagram is consistent with the class diagram?

Thanks

[Eve]

You could run a script...  But you'd have to write one first.